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Robinson swats slam as Cards outslug Nationals

3/8/13: Cardinals put up six runs in the third inning courtesy of two singles and two doubles

By Bill Ladson
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MLB.com |

VIERA, Fla. -- Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann had an outing he would like to forget as the Cardinals outslugged the Nationals, 16-10, at Space Coast Stadium on Friday afternoon. Washington is on a three-game losing streak, while the Cardinals have won three in a row.

Zimmermann pitched three innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits. He threw 61 pitches, 39 for strikes. St. Louis went to work on Zimmermann in the second, scoring two runs. David Freese scored on a groundout by Rob Johnson, while Shane Robinson scored on a single by Ronny Cedeno to make it 2-0.

The Cardinals sent 10 hitters to the plate in the third and scored six runs off Zimmermann. Johnson and Greg Garcia highlighted the scoring with two-run hits.

The Nationals scored their first two runs off Cardinals right-hander Shelby Miller in the third on Bryce Harper's two-run triple, scoring Wilson Ramos and Chad Tracy.

"I felt really good," said Miller, who allowed two runs on three hits in three innings and struck out Harper to end an 11-pitch at-bat in the first. "I pitched my way out of that [first-inning jam]. That's a good confidence booster against a team like Washington. They have a great offense and power all throughout the lineup."

Nationals reliever Nathan Karns was on the mound when St. Louis scored seven runs in the fifth. Shane Robinson highlighted the scoring with a grand slam to make it 15-2. Only one of the seven runs was earned because of an error by Anthony Rendon.

In the sixth, Ryan Zimmerman doubled in Cory Brown for the Nats' third run.

The Cardinals scored their 16th run in the eighth off left-hander Patrick McCoy. Cody Stanley crossed the plate on a single by J.R. Towles.

Up next: Adam Wainwright, who is expected to be the Opening Day starter, will make the third of his scheduled six spring starts on Saturday when the Marlins host the Cards at Roger Dean Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. CT on Gameday Audio. Wainwright will be followed on the mound by Michael Wacha, who has had a sensational spring. Wacha was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.